The Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Samira Bawumia, has launched the second edition of her Samira Bawumia Literature Prize Anthologytitled "We Move: Ghanaian Dream in Motion."

This took place at a high-profile event held on Monday, November 18, at Alema Avenue in Accra.

The occasion was graced by a host of distinguished personalities from the worlds of literature, politics, and culture, including Former CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Rev Joyce Aryee, Deputy Minister for Tourism Arts, and Culture, Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey, Renowned Ghanaian poet and surgeon Lade Worsonu, and Head of the Ghana Library Authority, Mr. Hayford Siaw, among others.

In her address, H.E. Samira Bawumia highlighted the importance of the Samira Bawumia Literature Prize, a competition introduced in 2018 to provide an opportunity for emerging writers, especially those who have yet to publish their stories, to showcase their talents and contribute meaningfully to Ghanaian literature.

“When the Samira Bawumia Literature Prize started in 2020, we had a simple yet ambitious dream, to create a nurturing and supportive environment, where young Ghanaian writers could thrive, showcase the talent, amplify the voices in both local and foreign stages. The approach was to showcase our writers by publishing the final works of our shortlisted writers and train as many writers as possible and raise interest in awareness within the space. We are focusing especially on those whose works have never been published to provide them with the platform,” she enlightened.

She emphasized that the initiative is not just about selecting a winner but about long-term support for the writers, including organizing workshops and training sessions to help them hone their craft.

The Second Lady further also elaborated on the theme of the anthology, "We Move: Ghanaian Dream in Motion," underscoring that, despite challenges, Ghana is steadily progressing and moving forward.

“The Ghanaian dream is that, you should be able to aspire to something and attain it and that should be everybody’s dream. For me, I believe that, if we are able to stay the course, we will achieve what we are trying to achieve as a people. Of course, there are setbacks along the way, we may not have everything as we want it, but that is part of life. The problem in life or the challenge is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you. We are resilient people, we are aspirational people, and we are people who are able to confront our challenges. And I know that in everything Ghana is moving forward,” she submitted.

She commended the writers whose stories contributed to the anthology, praising them for their hard work and dedication in bringing the publication to life.

During the event, Head of the Ghana Library Authority, Mr. Hayford Siaw shared his thoughts on the government's role in supporting writers and promoting Ghanaian literature.

Speaking on the upcoming International Writers' Day on March 3, he noted that while there is progress in the country’s literary landscape, more needs to be done to provide resources and visibility for local authors.

“I think in Ghana, what is evident is that, the writing industry is dominated by the private sector. We haven’t seen that forcefulness to promote writers. And for that reason, we want to encourage the private sector to take up ownership in the celebrating and recognizing individuals that are probably contributing to the writing industry, ” he underscored.

Ghanaian poet and surgeon, Lade Worsonu, renowned for his book Masters Brew, also spoke at the event, highlighting the challenges of engaging young people with reading in an age dominated by smartphones and digital technology. He urged parents to actively support and guide their children in developing a passion for books to change the narrative.

“There is a war out there, it’s for the minds, especially, minds of children. Electronic gadgets are designed to capture children’s attention, especially through bright colors. The child is easily attracted by the bright color and therefore, they don’t want to see books. To them, books are boring, so there is a battle out there. It’s up to the parents to help. It’s not easy, but parents must make an effort to control and limit their child’s screen time,” he stressed.

The event also saw a beautiful performance by Ghanaian rap artist and creative director, Okyeame Kwame, who recited a beautiful poem acknowledging the contributions of Ghanaian writers and the importance of their work in shaping the country's literary landscape.

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey applauded the Samira Bawumia Literature Prize for its pivotal role in promoting Ghanaian literature and encouraging the literary community to thrive.

Former CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and a member of the advisory board for the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Project, Reverend Joyce Aryee, also expressed her admiration for H.E. Bawumia's passion for literature and her continued support of Ghanaian writers.

The event culminated with the official launch of the second edition of the Samira Bawumia Literature Prize Anthology, where H.E. Samira Bawumia signed copies of the book and presented them to the dignitaries in attendance, marking a successful and inspiring evening that celebrated Ghana's rich literary culture.